Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 13, 2018
First Reading: Galatians 3.22-29
22But Scripture has enclosed everything under sin, so that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe23But before the faith arrived, we were preserved by being enclosed under the law, unto that faith which was to be revealed24And so the law was our guardian in Christ, in order that we might be justified by faith25But now that faith has arrived, we are no longer under a guardian26For you are all sons of God, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus27For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have become clothed with Christ28There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither servant nor free; there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus29And if you are Christ’s, then are you the offspring of Abraham, heirs according to the promise
Psalm 105
1Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, and invoke his name. Announce his works among the nations2Sing to him, and sing psalms to him. Describe all his wonders3Be praised in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice4Seek the Lord, and be confirmed. Seek his face always5Remember his miracles, which he has done, his portents and the judgments of his mouth6you offspring of Abraham his servant, you sons of Jacob his elect7He is the Lord our God. His judgments are throughout the entire earth8He has remembered his covenant for all ages: the word that he entrusted to a thousand generations9which he assigned to Abraham, and his oath to Isaac10And he stationed the same for Jacob with a precept, and for Israel with an eternal testament11saying: To you, I will give the land of Canaan, the allotment of your inheritance12Though they may have been but a small number, very few and foreigners there13and though they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people14he allowed no man to harm them, and he reproved kings on their behalf15Do not be willing to touch my Christ, and do not be willing to malign my prophets16And he called a famine upon the land, and he crushed every foundation of the bread17He sent a man before them: Joseph, who had been sold as a slave18They humbled his feet in shackles; the iron pierced his soul19until his word arrived. The eloquence of the Lord inflamed him20The king sent and released him; he was the ruler of the people, and he dismissed him21He established him as master of his house and ruler of all his possessions22so that he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his elders prudence23And Israel entered into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham24And he helped his people greatly, and he strengthened them over their enemies25He turned their heart to hate his people, and to deal deceitfully with his servants26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, the one whom he chose27He placed with them signs of his word, and portents in the land of Ham28He sent darkness and made it conceal, and he did not afflict them with his speech29He turned their waters into blood, and he slaughtered their fish30Their land brought forth frogs, even in the inner chambers of their kings31He spoke, and there came forth common flies and gnats, in every region32He gave them a shower of hail and a burning fire, in the same land33And he struck their vineyards and their fig trees, and he crushed the trees of their region34He spoke, and the locust came forth, and the caterpillar, of which there was no number35And it devoured all the grass in their land, and it consumed all the fruit of their land36And he struck all the first-born in their land, the first-fruits of all their labor37And he led them out with silver and gold, and there was not an infirm one among their tribes38Egypt was joyful at their departure, for the fear of them lay heavy upon them39He spread a cloud for their protection, and a fire, to give them light through the night40They petitioned, and the quail came; and he satisfied them with the bread of heaven41He ruptured the rock and the waters flowed: rivers gushed in the dry land42For he had called to mind his holy word, which he kept near to his servant Abraham43And he led forth his people in exultation, and his elect in rejoicing44And he gave them the regions of the Gentiles, and they possessed the labors of the peoples45so that they might observe his justifications, and inquire about his law
Gospel: Luke 11.27-28
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, identity, and the unity that comes from following Christ. The first reading from Galatians reminds us that through faith in Jesus Christ, we are all united as children of God, transcending the divisions of this world. Paul emphasizes that the law was a guardian until faith arrived, but now, in Christ, we are free to live as heirs of God’s promise. The second reading from Luke offers a moment of profound teaching when Jesus shifts the focus from bodily ties to spiritual ones. A woman praises Mary, the mother of Jesus, but Christ responds by blessing those who hear and keep the word of God. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on what it means to live as people of faith, united in Christ and committed to living out His teachings.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian community’s struggle to understand its identity. In Galatians, Paul is addressing a church torn between Jewish and Gentile believers, reminding them that their unity comes not from the law or human distinctions but from their shared faith in Christ. In Luke, Jesus is teaching in a public setting, and His response to the woman challenges His listeners to move beyond superficial devotion to a deeper, transformative relationship with God. Both readings call us to recognize that our true identity and purpose are found in Christ, not in the world’s categories or external observances.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded that faith is not just a belief but a way of life. Just as the law was a guardian until faith came, so too must we allow our faith to guide us in living according to God’s will. Like the woman in Luke, we may be tempted to focus on the outward signs of faith, but Jesus calls us to something deeper: hearing and keeping His word. This means living with integrity, compassion, and love, even in the face of challenges. The moral lesson here is clear: our unity as children of God and our commitment to living out the Gospel are the true measures of our faith. Let us strive to embrace this unity and to live in a way that reflects the transformative power of Christ in our lives.